documentary: hope flowers

Opened in 1984, Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem was founded by Hussein Issa to educate the children of Bethlehem and to facilitate the development of peace and understanding between Palestinian and Israeli children. Until the building of the security barrier by the Israeli government to separate Palestine from the state of Israel, Hope Flowers regularly hosted children from Israel and around the world for workshops on peace building, understanding, non-violent conflict resolution and the psychological impact of the continued Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, after the security barrier closed Bethlehem off from the surrounding Israeli territory, these workshops had to end. Hope Flowers itself faces a demolition order in order to continue the building of the wall and enrollment has dropped as unemployment in Bethlehem has increased from 25 percent to 75 percent since the establishment of Israeli checkpoints restricting movement in and out of the city. Hope Flowers is now in the shadow of an Israeli military lookout and has been hit by “stray fire” numerous times.

Despite the demolition order and constant military threat, Hope Flowers continues to facilitate workshops between Palestinian children and children from many European countries and they remain in touch with those on the Israeli side working against the security barrier and the extensive travel restrictions between Palestine and Israel. Children at Hope Flowers continue to be taught peace building and non-violent conflict resolution skills.